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Gratitude, Love, and Looking Out for One Another

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It is very early on a Thursday morning as I write this. Jet lag, emotion, and life have a way of waking you before the sun. I want to say thank you. The messages, calls, notes, and quiet gestures of support over the past few days have meant more than I can possibly express. When life tilts suddenly, you find out very quickly how many people are standing nearby, ready to steady you. I have felt that steadiness. Kristin was an extraordinary woman. We met in college as two kids who thought we had things figured out. We grew up together over nearly 30 years, married almost 28 of them. Most of the best parts of me were sharpened, softened, strengthened, or outright created because of her. She had high standards, deep empathy, a subtle sense of humor, and a fierce love for her family. She was also far more private than I am. And out of love and respect for her, that privacy will remain. Some stories are sacred. Some struggles are not meant for public consumption. What I will say is this: she...
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Carnaval Check-In

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  Midway check-in from my first Carnaval. Yes, the gringo is still standing. For those who’ve been checking on me — thank you. Apparently, I have a reputation for finding myself in interesting situations. I prefer to call it full cultural immersion. I’ve gone everywhere people told me to avoid and done everything they said I shouldn’t. Spectacular so far. Camarotes are nice. The streets are where the real story is. Seven days? I think I’ve got this.
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Welcome to the Jungle… or Dengue Fever

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  Last Saturday morning, I woke up with what I assumed was a headache earned the old-fashioned way. A little too much wine the night before. A rookie mistake. Except…that explanation didn’t really hold water. Over the years, I’ve built up a fairly respectable tolerance, and this felt different. By midday, it became clear that I hadn’t overdone it. What followed was a seven-day odyssey that I wouldn’t wish on anyone, but will absolutely write about. Enter dengue fever. Thanks to the truly life-saving dipirona (which I am now convinced is the greatest medication ever invented and, naturally, illegal in the United States), my days became a strange cycle. High fever. Then, suddenly, I’d turn into a walking swimming pool as the medication kicked in. Add in joint pain that made me feel 30 years older, dizziness, tinnitus, bloodshot eyes, and the general sense that my body and I were no longer on speaking terms. And then, just as mysteriously as it arrived, it left. At approximately noon ...
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Leadership Lessons from a Brazilian Parking Lot and a Dentist’s Office

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  Living and working in Brazil continues to provide me with leadership training in the most unexpected places. I wouldn't have it any other way! This weekend, on a routine trip to the grocery store, I was making a left turn into the parking lot when I I heard an unusually loud speed bump. A moment later, I glanced in my rearview mirror and saw a man rolling across the pavement. Ah. Not a speed bump. A motorcycle had struck my back bumper. Don't worry, I didn't roll over him. Don't worry, I didn't roll over him. I pulled over immediately and went to check on him. Thankfully, he had only minor bumps and bruises and his brake cable had come loose. My limited Portuguese was… ambitious, but not exactly effective. Within seconds, a group of fellow motorcyclists arrived and surrounded me. It felt like the opening scene of a very low-budget action movie. I checked on the man. I checked on the bike. I gave him money to repair it. We shook hands. Crisis averted. Then I calml...
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Gringo in the Sun

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  I had a plan. A simple, beautiful, foolproof plan. Enjoy some lively samba music at a local boteco along the Orla in Salvador. Great company. Cold drinks. Ocean breeze. Shade. Clouds. Vibes. And for once, I decided to outsmart Mother Nature. No sunscreen. Why? Because sunscreen can be slightly uncomfortable and I was convinced I had cracked the code: Breezy day? Check. Partly cloudy? Check. Shade the whole time? Check. Umbrella overhead? Check. I strolled confidently along the seaside like a seasoned tropical veteran. Hours passed. Laughter flowed. Music played. Life was good. Victory. What I didn’t account for was Brazil’s famous mormaço . It is a sneaky sun that burns you through the clouds. It looks harmless. It feels like a warm hug. And then it attacks. A few days later, it hurts to raise an eyebrow, and smiling is a gamble. So much for outsmarting Mother Nature. Here’s the irony: I’ve lived in Brazil long enough to watch locals apply sunscreen to already-tanned skin...
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Back in the Sun, Back in Perspective

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  There is something about returning to a place that reminds you who you are. After a few weeks back in cold, snowy Michigan, I found myself slipping effortlessly into old rhythms. The sounds, the pace, even the muscle memory of everyday life felt familiar. It was as if I had never left. Then I returned to Brazil. And once again, that same feeling hit me, as no time had passed at all. My first full day back was spent on the golf course in Praia do Forte. Blue skies, ocean air, and that unmistakable Brazilian sun. Magnificent, energizing, and apparently stronger than SPF 70. Despite my best efforts, I still managed to leave with a sunburn, a small reminder that nature always gets the last word. But more than the weather, it was the feeling that stood out. Brazil has a way of pulling you into the present. The warmth. The music. The constant sense of movement and celebration. Even ordinary days carry a sense of life and possibility. And while I can feel comfortable anywhere, that is s...
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